Method of and machine for compressing boot and shoe parts



Mai. 13. 1923. 1,448,069

A. E.'HUDS ON ET AL METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR COMPRESSING BOOT AND SHOE PARTS Filed Dec. 19, 1919 4- sheets-sheet 1 Mar. 13, 1923. w v 1,448,069

A. E. HUDSON ET AL I METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR COMPRESSING BOOT AND SHOE PARTS Filed Dec. 19, .1919 4 sheets-sheet 2 [0] wliflllIllillllllllllllllllllllllllllll Mar .13, 1923. 1,448,069

A. E. HUDSON ET AL v METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR COMPRESSING BOOT AND SHOE PARTS Filed Dec. 19.,-1919 4 sheets-sheet; 5

Mar. 13, 1923. 1,448,069 A. E. HUDSON ET AL METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR COMPRESSING BOOT AND SHOE PARTS Filed Dec. 19, 1919 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented Mar. 13, 1923.

T e r or air ALBERT E. HUDSON, 0F BEVERLY, AND WILLIAM C. WILIJSON, 0F MEDFORD, MASSA- CHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS- TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATER- SON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR COMPRESSING BOOT AND SHOE PARTS.

Application filed December 19, 1919. Serial No. 346,095.

To aZZw/wmz't may concern:

Be it known that we, ALBERT E. HUDSON and l/VILLIAM C. lVILLsON, citizens of the United States, residing at Beverly,-i-n the county of Essex and State of'Massachusetts,

and Medford. in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, respectively, have invented certain Improvements in Methods of and Machines for Compressing Boot and Shoe Parts, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to a method of and machine for compressing boot and shoe parts, such, for instance, as heel parts, top lifts, and the like. The, advantages and results of the invention are more particularly observable in the compression of top lifts of heels for boots and shoes. and, therefore, the invention will be herein described as applied for this purpose. It is to be understood, however, that the invention may be advantageously employed for compressing other boot and shoe blanks and, consequently, is not restricted to compressing or condensing top lifts. 7

The top lifts of boot and shoe heels come directly in contact with the ground when the boot or shoe is on the foot of the wearer and it is now the common ractice to subject top lifts to a heavy condensing pressure insuitable molds before they are applied to the heels of boots and shoes, in order to consolidate the material of the top lifts and thereby increase their wear resisting qualities. In order to condense and permanently set the fibres of the top lifts, the pressure exerted upon the material of the top lifts is now effected between two opposed rigid cempressing members. A machine of this general character is shown and described in the United States patent to Thomas Lund No. 1,172.471, dated September 22, 19126, and the product of the patented machine is of superior quality. and the machine itself has been commercially successfi'il. Its output, however, has been limited to the capacity of the machine which is intended to treat one blank or top lift at a time.

The constantly increasing use of compressed top lifts, however, has created a de-v mand for greater quantitative product without at the same time sacrificing the quality of the product, which depends .upon the character and effect of the pressure upon the fibrous structure of the top lift materials,

An important feature of the present invention, therefore, consists in a method of assembling a plurality of heel lifts in alternating relation with presser plates to form a composite pile and then subjecting the composite pile of lifts and plates to a lift con- I densing pressure.

In carrying this feature of the invention. into effect, suitable means may be employed for assembling the. lifts and presser plates into piles composed of alternating lifts and plates, andlikewise any suitable compressing mechanism may be employed for exerting the desired condensing pressure on the composite pile of lifts and plates. Since the lifts or shoe blanks which are to be subjected o compression in the pile of alternating blanks and plates, are in surface contact with the substantially rigid presser plates, the condensing pressure applied to v the composite-pile is transmitted with substantial uniformity to all of the lifts or blanks in the pile and uniform product of high quality and increased production: results.

In order that the simultaneous production of a plurality of condensed lifts may be effected through the action of. compression members applied to composite piles of lifts andpresser plates, the present invention includes, in addition to the method hereinbefore announced, a machine of novel con struction and operation for carrying the method into effect. I

An important feature of the present invention in thisrespect consists of means for taking top lifts and presser plates from sources of sup ly and arranging them into a pile in which a presser plate is interposed between each of the adjacent lifts, and means treating top for subjecting the composite pile to a top lift condensingpressure.

This feature of the invention, in the present instance, is carried into effect by arranging a. series of heel lift magazines and presser plate upplying means adjacent to an assembling mechanism to which the heel lifts and presser plates are delivered in alternating relation to form composite piles of lifts and plates.

Vhen a composite pile of lifts and presser plates has been completed at the assembling station, the invention intends that it shall be delivered to a compression station for condensing the pile. An important feature of the invention in this respect, therefore, consists of means for transferring a composite pile of heel lifts andpresser plates to means for subjecting the composite pile to the condensing pressure. 7

After the composite pile of heel lifts and presser plates has been subject to the action of'the pressure means, the now condensed heel lifts and the presser plates must be separated, and another important feature of the invention, therefore, consists of means for separating the condensed heel lifts and presser plates after the treatment of a composite pile of lifts and plates by the pres sure means.

The presser plates are preferably of sub stantially ,rigid metallic. material, and are susceptible of repeated usein the machine. Another important feature of the invention, therefore, consists in returning the presser plates to the sources of supply adjacent the assembling mechanism where such presser plates are separated from the previously as sociated condensed heel lifts.

()ther important features of the invention,

and novel combinations of parts, in addition to the above, will be hereinafter described in connection with one good practical form or mechanical embodiment thereof, but it is to be understoodthat the invention is not restricted to the particular details which may be varied within the true scope of the present invention which is definitely described by the claims. I

In the drawings Fig. l is a plan view of a machine for lifts for the heels of boots and shoes in accordance with the present inven tion; i

Fig. 2 isa side elevation and part sectional View showing-more particularly one good form of compression mechanism and its associated parts; v

Fig. 3 is an, enlarged side elevation of portions of the assembling mechanism and sources of supply forthe heel lifts and presser plates, certain parts being broken away and, exaggerated to avoid complication of the drawings Fig 4 'is'a detaciheddetailtnair enlarged scale showing one good form of means for insuring the separation of the condensed lifts and the presser plates after the composite pile has been subjected to condensing pressure;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5- 5 of Fig. 3 showing the general"form of the chute for returning the presser plates to the machine for further use;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view'on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1 showing more particularly the means for delivering the heel lifts and presser plates to the assembling mecha nism; I

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 7-7 of Fig. 3 showing the means for transferring a composite pile of heel lifts and plates from the assembling station to the compression mechanism;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional detail through a portion of the carrier or turret showing the means for progressively separating the alternate condensed lifts and plates, one at a time; and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged plan view showing details of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 8.

The machine frame may be of suitable form and character for supporting the op erating parts, and in the present instance, comprises a table or support 1 at the heel lift and presser plate assembling station, and a frame 2 which may constitute a sup port for the carrier which transfers the piles of heel lifts and presser plates to the compression mechanism and then to the discharging stations.

The machine frame 2 has an extension 3 in which is mounted the driving shaft 4 carrying the fast and loose pulleys 5 and 6, Fig. 2, which may be actuated by suitable driving means, such, for instance, as belting from a line shaft. The driving shaft 4 carries the gear 7 which meshes with a pinion 8 mounted on the shaft 9 on which is secured the gear 10 which transmits motion to the main driver 11 mounted in suitable bearings 12 carried by the extensions 3 of the machine frame 2. The main driver 11. is secured to the shaft 13 which has connected thereto the crank disk 14. A rod 15 connects the crank disk 1 1 with the crank arm 16 by which oscillatory motion is transmitted to the shaft 17 shown in full lines. Fig. and in dotted lines, 1. The shaft 17 is operatively connected to the shaft 18, Figs. 1 and 2, which may be supported. in suitable bearings 19 carried by the bracket 20 secured-to the machine frame 2, as inclicated in Figs. 1 and 2.

From the construction thus far described it will beseenthat rotary movement im parted to the main shaft et is transmitted through the, train of mechanism described,

intb os illa ory movement ta tle sha t 18;

semblingmechanism a step by step movement in one direction, as will more fully appear. I

Secured to the oscillatingshaft 18 is a bevel pinion 21 Fig. 1, which meshes with a; corresponding-pinion 22 on a shaft 2-3 which,

in turn, is connected to the presser plate feed shaft 24, Fig. 1, through a suitable train of mechanism which, in the present instance of the invention, consists of a sprocket wheel 25 on the shaft 24, and a sprocket and chain connection 2-7 and 26.

The shaft 23 has imparted thereto the oscillatory movement of the shaft 18 and advantage is taken of this movement of the shaft 23 to transmit to the heel lift feed shaft 28 its oscillatory rotary movement. The train of gearing between the shaft 23and the feed shaft 28 is indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1- wherein the shaft 23 is shown as provided with the pinion 29 which engages with a toothed wheel 30 mounted on the counter shaft 31 from which motion is directly transmitted to the feed shaft 28by a sprocket cliai'n connection 32, Fig. 1, the construction being such that the feed shafts 24' and 28 will be given an oscillatory rotary movement for feeding the heel lifts and presser plates" to the'a'ssembling mechanism.

Mounted on the table 1 adjacent the assembling mechanism, presently to be d'ei scribed, is a series of heel lift magazines 33 which may be of suitable number to provide separate series of stacks of heel lifts. In the present instance of the invention, three heel lift magazines are indicated, but itis to be understood, of course, that the number may be varied to correspond to the number of heel lifts that are to be comprised in each of the composite piles of heel lifts and presser plates.

The heel lift magazines 33, as best indicated in Fig. 3, may be supported from the table 1 by means of the brackets 34 to which the lower portions of the magazines may be adjustably attached.

Adjacent the series of magazines for holding the stacks of heel lifts, is the heel lift and presser plate assembling mechanism, which, in the present instance of the invention, comprises the. sprocket chains 35' and 36 which pass over the sprocket wheels 37 and 38 rotatably mounted in suitable hangers- 39, Fig} 3, depending from or supported by the table 1. k The sprocket chains and 36' have extending between them the finger plates 40, the lower edge portionsof which travel along the support 41 which is adapted to have placed upon it in front of the finger plates 40, the composite piles of'heel' lifts and presser plates, the construction being such that the composite piles are supported upon t he support 41 and are progressively moved along said support by the assembling mechanism or conveyor which is constituted by the sprocket chains and finger plates.

The assembling mechanism is, given a step-by-step or intermittent movement longitudinally along the support 41. This may be effected by a suitable train of mechanism connected to the oscillatingshaft 18. In the present instance the shaft 18 has loosely mounted thereon the sprocket wheel 42, Fig. 1, the outer surface of which is constituted as one part of a clutch, the other part 4303f which is mounted for rotative movement with the shaftlS andwis held in operative engagement with the opposing clutch memher by a spring 44, the construction being such that when the shaft 18 is oscillated in one direction it will turn the sprocket wheel 42' through the clutch connection described andwhen it is oscillated in the opposite direction, the sprocket wheel 42 will remain at rest. Mounted upon a bracket 45'secured to the machine frame 2 is the shaft 46 on which is secured the sprocket wheel 47' connected by a sprocket chain 48 with the sprocket wheel 42. Mounted on the shaft 46' to rotate with the sprocket wheel 47 is a bevel gear 49,-Fig.- 1, which meshes with a correspondingly beveled gear 50 on the shaft 51 which carries the sprocket wheels 38 about which the sprocket chains 35 and 36 travel, the construction being such that the sproket chains 35 and 36 and finger plates constituting the assembling mechanism, will be given a step-by-step progressive movement to carry the heel lifts and presser plates along the support 41.

The present invention, as hereinbefore indicated, provides for forming piles of heel lifts with presser plates arranged between adjacent lifts, and in order that the condensing pressure'which is to condense and set the fibrous" material of the heel lifts may be transmitted with substantially undiminished pressure, throughout the series of heel lifts in the" pile", such presser plates are substantia'l-ly rigid or unyielding, and means is provi'ded for alternately feeding a heel lift and two of them being shown in the present illustration of the invention, but the number may be'varie'd to correspond with the number' of magazines for the heel lifts. As will presently be deseribed,-the presser plates are supplied to the chutes 52 and 53 from the composite piles of heel lifts and press plates after such piles have been compressed and are positioned at the lower ends of the chutes 52 and 58 by suitable stops 54, Figs.

1 and 6. These stops may be adjustably connected to the table 1 by means of the bolts 55-which pass through slots in the supporting portion of the stops.

Since the heel lifts and the presser plates are to be arranged in piles of alternating lifts and plates, the magazines and presser plate supplies are alternately arranged as indicatedin Fig. 1, wherein the magazines for the heel lifts and the source of supplies for the presser plates, are shown as disposed on opposite sides of the path of movement of the assembling mechanism and are fed thereto through means connected to the feed shafts 24. and 28, respectively.

Secured to the feed shaft 28, as best illustrated in Fig. 6, is a pinion 56 which meshes with a toothed rack 57 mounted for sliding movement in the ways 58 in the table 1 at one side of the path of movement of the assembling mechanism. The rack 57 has connected thereto the pusher 59, the active end portion of which is provided with a recess 60 into which the lower lift a of the adjacent stack of lifts may rest when the rack is in its non-feeding or withdrawn po sition. When the pusher 59 is moved to feed the lowermost lift of the stack to the support 41, the upper surface of the pusher 59 moves under the superposed lifts and supports the upper lifts of the pile as the lowermost lift is fed to the support.

Mounted upon the presser plate feed shaft 24;, Fig. 6, is a pinion 61 the teeth of which engage the teeth of a rack 62 mounted for sliding movement in the way 63 formed in the table 1, substantially similar tothe feed rack for the lifts hereiubefore described. Secured to the rack 62 is the pusher 64, the leading end portion of which is recessed at 65 to receive the presser plate I), Fig. 6, and the pusher 64 is provided with the lugs 66 which engage the trailing side of the presser plate 72 and maintain it in proper position to be superposed upon a heel lift previously moved onto the support 41, In order to insure that the presser plate Z2 shall be detached from the pusher when the latter moves the plate over the previously positioned. lift, a finger 67, preferably of spring nature, has it leading end 68 positioned to engage the trailing edge of the lift and. dc tach it from the pusher as the latter is withdrawn. The finger 66 may be held: in position by a bridge piece 69 extending from the stop 54, Fig. 6.

When the assembling mechanism is at rest between its intermittent movements, the pushers for the heel lifts and presser plates are actuated to simultaneously transfer from the magazines and the presser plate supplies, a series of lifts and plates sufficient in number to complete a composite pile of lifts and plates, and owing to the alternate arrangement of the magazines and plate supplies, and the intermittent movement of the assembling mechanism, the heel lifts and .presser plates will be arranged in piles of alternate heel lifts and plates, and the leading pile will be completed on each recipro cating movement of the pushers after the machine has been in operation.

In the illustrated form of the invention, the support 41 is shown as a horizontal surface on which the piles of lifts and plates are formed as the assembling mechanism intermittently moves the piles along the support, consequently the pushers for the heel lifts and presser plates are arranged in progressively higher planes, as indicated in Fig. 3; that is, the pusher for the first magazine of the series, shown at the right, Fig. 3, is the lowest of the series of pushers and moves a heel lift from the adjacent magazine directly onto the support 41. The pusher for the presser plate which is next in order to be transferred to the assembling mechanism, is sufficiently higher than the pusher for the heel lift to transfer a presser plate onto that lift when it reaches the plate feeding station. The pusher for the second magazine is higher than the pusher for the first inserted presser plate in order to deliver a heel lift onto the presser plate when the pile reaches the feeding position for' the second lift, and so on throughp ut the series substantially as indicated in A composite pile of heel lifts and presser plates having been completed, as indicated. at the left, Fig. 3, it is to be transferred to the pressure mechanism for receiving the condensing pressure which may be applied by any suitable form of compression mechanism as, for instance, that shown and de scribed in the patent to Thomas Lund, No. 1,172,471, dated February 22, 1916.

The transferrer may be variously devised, but in the present instance of the invention, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 7, it comprises a lifting head 70 having a downwardly eX- tending stem 71 which is received in a plunger 72 having rack teeth at one portion thereof, as at 73, which engage the teeth of a gear or pinion 74 mounted on shaft 75 which receives its motion intermittently through a train of mechanism connected to the shaft 31, Fig. 1. In the present instance, the shaft 31 is extended to the left, Fig. 1, and carries a sprocket wheel 76 which is connected by a sprocket chain with a sprocket wheel 77 mounted on the short shaft 75 to which the gear or pinion 74: is secured, the construction being such that the head 7 0 will be raised at intervals to transfer a composite pile of heel lifts and presser plates to a carrier by which the pile may be transferred to the compression mechanism. The support 41 adjacent the head 70, 7, is provided with an opening through which the head may pass to transfer the composite pile of lifts and presser plates to the carrier when such pile has been moved into position upon the head 70 by the finger plates of the assembling mechanism, as indicated in Fig. 3.

lVhen the plunger 72 is in its lowered po sition, the top surface of the head 0 is in the same plane as the supporting surface of the table 41 and suitable stops 78 are connected to the head 70 to insure proper coincidence of the top surface of the head 70 and the surface of the support 11. The stem 71 is provided with a pin 79 which extends into a recess 80 of the plunger 72 and a spring 81 is interposed between the top of the plunger 72 and the head 70 for a purpose that will presently appear.

The compression mechanism is supported upon the frame 2, hereinbefore described, and comprises a rigid abutment 82, Fig. 2, to which is secured the fixed die 83 constituting one of the pressure members. Mounted upon the frame 2 for rising and falling movement relative thereto, is the presser head 84 which is given its risingand falling movements through the toggle levers 85 and 86, the member 85 of the toggle being pivotedat 87 to thehead 8a, and the lower end of the member 86 of the toggle being pivoted at 88 to a fixed part of the frame. A. link 89 is connected to the toggle at 90 and to a crank arm 91 carried by the shaft 13, Fig. 3, the construction being such that as the shaft 13 is rotated the toggle will be alternately straightened and'brokento thereby raiseand lower the head. The head is provided with dies'92 in which rests the top lift plate 93 having the stem 94 extending downwardly therefrom to be engaged at times by a lifter 95, as more fully described in the patent to Lund hereinbefore mentioned, the construction being such that when the head 84 is raised, a composite pile of lifts and presser plates willbe taken from the carrier, to be presently described, and on further upward movement of the head the composite piles will be subjected to a condensing pressure. As the head 8% is moved downwardly, the now compressed pile of lifts and plates will be moved npwardlyby the ejector 95, as more clearly and fully described in the patent to Lund. and the pile of compressedlifts and plates will be transferred to the carrier, as will more fully appear.

The carrier for taking the composite piles of lifts and plates from the t-ransferrer and n'ioviiig them into compressing position may be variously contrived, but in the present instance of the invention it is formed as a turret which comprises a bottom plate 96 which is fixed to the rising and falling and plates to the turret, the pile may be passed through the opening 98 in the fixed plate 96 and received into one of the corresponding openings 99 in the rotary turret 97, whichpat' the momentof transfer registers with the opening '98 in the relativelystationary bottom plate. The rotary turret 9.7 has a number of openings IQLSQ'CkGtGd portions 99 which, in the present instance of the invention, are arranged in successive order,

as indicated in F The number of the openings 99in the turret 97 may be varied,

but in the present instance of the invention fourteen of these are indicated, the purpose ,being that as the tnrret 'is rotated, it

'will carry a pile ofcomposite lifts and plates from the receiving station abovethe opening 98 in the bottom plate 96 successively to the compression mechanism and after com pression carry the series of compressed lifts and plates to discharging stations, as w ll presently appear.

Rotary movement is imparted to the turret ;through a )inion 100, Fig. 1, which meshes with teet =101 formed'in the peripheral portion of the turret. The pinionlOO is mounted on a short shaft 102 carried by the bracket 103 mounted on the rising and falling head 84. The lower portion of the shaft 102 has secured thereto a clutch member 10a which is adapted to be actuatedby a complemental clutch member 105 loosely mounted on the shaft102 and provided with a =bevel pinion 106, Fig. 2. A toothed rack or segment 107 is engaged with the bevel pinion 106 and mounted .for rocking move ment about an axis 108 by means of'an arm 109 which is connected for lost motion to the upper end portion of a rOd 110, the lower end of which is securedat 111 to the machine frame 2, the construction being such that as the head-84 is raised to apply the condensing pressure to a pile of lifts and plates between the compression members, the turret will not be rotated, the engaging teeth of the clutch members 104 and 105 at such times clicking past each other under the influence of a spring 112 which permits movement of the clutch member 104:; longitudinally of the shaft 102 as the toothed segment 107 is oscillated. WVheh, however, the head 84: is being lowered, the ejector first acts through'the stem 94 and top lift plate 93 to return the compressed pile of lifts and plates to the opening in the turret from which they were removed for purposes of compression, and thereafter, due to the lost motion between the arm 109 and the actuating rod 110, the turret will be rotated to carry the compressed pile of lifts and plates from between the compression members or dies, and substitute therefor another pile of lifts and plates to be compressed. It has not been considered necessary herein to enter into a detailed description of all the features of the compression mechanism, since they may be of the same character as fully described in the patent to Lund hereinbefore mentioned.

It is appropriate at this time to refer to the function of the spring 81, Fig. 7, which yieldingly supports the transferrer head 70. As indicated in Fig. 1, the opening 98 in the fixed bottom plate of the turret and the openings 99 in the turret itself, are of the general contour of the pile of lifts and lates with which they are to cooperate. bhould a pile of lifts and plates contact with the bottom plate 96 as the transferrer moves upwardly, the spring 81 will permit a yield and thus prevent breakage of parts. When the transferrer head has moved a pile of lifts and plates, through the opening 98 of the bottom plate 96, and into the registering opening 99 of the turret, it is desirable that the top surface of the transferrer head be substantially in the same plane as the top surface of the bottom plate 96. To insure this coincidence of the surfaces, the

stop 78 is provided on the transferrer head '70 to contact with the under surface of the plate 96 when the transferrer head has moved a pile of lifts and plates tothe turret.

After a pile of lifts and plates has been subjected to the condensing pressure, the present invention proposes to separate the condensed lifts and plates and discharge them into different paths. In the present instance, the turret 97 moves the condensed pile of lifts and plates from the compression mechanism by a progressive step-bystep movement and advantage is taken of this movement of the turret to separate the condensed lifts and plates.

The bottom plate 96 over which the turret moves, is provided with a series of discharge openings 113 over which a pile of condensed lifts and plates is'moved after the compressing operation. Each of the openings 113, except the last one in the series, at the left, Fig. 8, is provided with a door 114, and since these doors are all the same and are operated by similar mechanism, a description of one will be sufiicient, and to this end attention is directed to Fig. 4 in which the door 114 is shown in its closed position. The door 114 is pivotal-1y mounted on a supporting shaft 115 mounted in suitable brackets 116 on the bottom plate 96. Fixed to and extending from the shaft 115 is a door operating finger 117, the upper end portion 118 of which is adapted to be engaged by the lugs 119 formed on the peripheral portion of the turret 97, when the turret is operated. The shaft 115, figs. 4 and 9, is under the influence of a spring 120, preferably wound about the shaft 115 and acting therethrough to normally hold the door 114 in its closed position, as indicated in Fig. 4, but'with permissive movement to be opened by the finger 117' when the latter is engaged by one of the lugs 119 during the rotary movement of the turret. The action of the spring 120 is limited by an adjusting stop 121 against which the finger 117 abuts, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 9. As the turret 97 is rotated to position a pile of lifts and plates above one of the discharge openings in the bottom plate 96, the pile of lifts, as indicated in Fig. 4, drops upon the door 114 which at the time closes the opening. The thickness of the door 114 is preferably such that when a top lift or plate rests upon the door, the surface contact between it and the superposed lift or plate is substantially in the plane of the upper surface of the bottom plate 96, so that as the turret is revolved, the superposed lifts and plates may be moved by the turret, leaving the lower lift or plate resting upon the door. To prevent obstructing engagement of the leading end of the pile of lifts and plates as they are moved by the turret from above the lower lift or plate, as indicated in Fig. 4, the edges of the opening 113 are inclined or beveled, as indicated at 122.

To insure that the condensed lift or plate resting upon the door 114 is discharged "when the door is opened by contact of one of the lugs 119 with the door opening finger 117, as the turret rotates, the present invention provides a kicker 123 associated with each of the openings 99 in the turret. The kicker 123 is best indicated in Figs. 4 and 9 wherein it is shown as secured to a short shaft 124 mounted in suitable bearings 125 in the turret 97 adjacent the trailing wall of each of the recesses or openings 99. The kicker 123 is under the influence of a spring 126 normally acting to throw the toe or free end of the kicker downwardly, but restrained from effecting such downward movement of the toe of the kicker by the latter traveling upon the top surface of the bottom plate 96 as the turret rotates. When, however, the toe of the kicker 123 reaches the discharge opening 113 in the bottom plate, the kicker operating spring 126 throws the end or toe of the kicker downwardly as it leaves the surface of the bottom plate. At this instant the door 114 has been opened into the dotted line position, as indicated in Fig, 4, with the result that the kicker hits the condensed lift or presser plate and discharges it from the machine.

As the condensed lifts and plates are dis-- charged, substantially in the manner hereinbefore described, they are directed into paths for collecting the lifts and for returning the presser plates to the feeding mechanism for further use. In the present invention, the discharge stations for the lifts and plates have associated therewith a conveyor. This conveyor may be variously devised, but in the present instance a separate conveyor is associated with each of the discharge openings 113 and when a lift or plate is discharged from the turret it is received upon the conveyor and conducted to the desired point. The conveyors for the plates have been hereinbefore referred to as the chutes 52 and 53, and the upper ends of these chutes, as indicated in Fig. 8, are positioned below the discharge openings and serve to receive the presser plates as they are removed from the turret. In order to return the presser plates to position for further use, the chutes 52 and 53 are formed inclined, as indicated in Fig. 3. These chutes may be formed as indicated by the cross section in Fig. 5, wherein the bottom portion 127 of each chute is concaved so as to offer little resistance tothe travel of the substantially rigid presser plates down the the inclined chutes. To prevent the presser plates umping from the chutes as they move to the source of supply, each side is provided with the side flanges 128, Fig. 5. The upper end portions of the chutes, as indi cated in Fig. 3, may be supported by suitable bracket arms 129 extending from the machine frame.

Below each of the lift discharge openings 113 is the upper end portion of the chute or conveyor 130 which, as thecondensed lifts are discharged from the turret, as hereinbefore described, convey the lifts out of the machine. I

Other forms of conveyors for the condensed lifts and plates might me employed within the present invention, but the chute form of conveyor is found to be effective for the desired purpose.

lVe claim- 1. The method of condensing top-lifts for boots and shoes. which consists in assembling a plurality of top-lifts and rigid presser plates of the same size and contour, respectively, into a pile with a rigid presser plate between adjacent top-lifts and then subjecting the composite pile to a top-liftcondensing pressure.

2. The method of condensing a. plurality of heel lifts which consists in forming a composite pile of heel lifts and substantially rigid presser plates of the same size and contour, respectively, in alternating relation, introducing the composite pile into an edge confining mold, and thensubjecting the comthe rigid presser plates.

4:. The method of condensing a plurality of individual, dry heel lifts, which consists in forming a composite pile 'of said heel lifts and substantially rigid, fiat presser plates in alternating relation, then subjecting the composite pile toa lift condensing pressure to slmultaneously condense and set the ma terial of the plurality of lifts, and then progressively separating the individual condensed lifts andpresser plates.

5. In a machine for compressing top-lifts, the combination of means for taking a plurality of top-lifts and presser platesfrom sources of supplv and arranging them into a pile in alternating relation, and means for subjecting the composite pile to a top-lift condensingpressure,

6. In a machine for compressing top lifts, the combination of means for taking a plurality of top-lifts and presser plates from sources of supply and arranging them into a pile in alternating relation, means for subjecting the composite pile to a top-lift condensing pressure, and means for separating the lifts and plates after the top-lifts have been' 'compressed.

7. In a machine for compressing top-lifts, thecombination ofmeans for taking a plurality of top-lifts and'presser plates from sources of supply and arranging them into a pile in alternating relation, means for subjecting the composite pile to a top-lift condensing pressure, and means for transferring the composite pile to the pressure means for treatment.

=8. In a machine of the class described, the

combination of means for moving a series of heel lifts from sources of supply into alinement, means for moving a plurality of presser plates into alternating relation with the alined series of lifts, and means for assembling lifts and plates alternately into piles.

'9. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for moving a series of heel lifts from sources of supply into alinement, means for moving a plurality of presser plates into alternating relation with the alined series of lifts, and means for assembling the alined lifts and plates with other lifts andplates to-form piles of alternating'lifts and plates.

llO

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for moving a series of heel lifts from sources of supply into alinement, means for moving a plurality of presser plates into alternating relation with the alined series of lifts, means for assembling lifts and plates alternately into piles, and means for subjecting the assembled lifts and plates to a lift condensing pressure.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for holding a series of stacks of heel lifts, means for moving the bottom lifts from the several stacks into positions from which they are to be assembled, means for moving a plurality of presser plates into positions alternating with the heel. lifts, and assembling means for moving the positioned lifts and plates into alternating relation with other lifts and plates.

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for holding a series of stacks of heel lifts, means for moving the bottom lifts from the several stacks into positions from which they are to be assembled, means for moving a plurality of presser plates into positions alternating with the heel lifts, assembling means for moving the positioned lifts and plates into alternating relation with other lifts and plates, and means for subjecting the alternating lifts and plates to a lift condensing pressure.

13. In a machine of the class described, the combination of automatic means for assembling heel lifts and presser plates in alternating relation into a pile, means for subjecting the composite pile of lifts and plates to a lift condensing pressure, and means for moving the composite pile of alternating lifts and plates into position for treatment by the pressure means.

14:. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for assembling heel lifts and presser plates in alternating relation, means for subjecting the composite pile of lifts and plates to pressure, and means for transferring the lifts and plates from the assembling means to the pressure means.

15. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a series of magazines for holding heel lifts, means for supplying presser plates in alternating relation with the magazines, means for assembling heel lifts and presser plates in alternating relation into a pile, and means for subjecting the composite pile to a lift condensing pressure.

16. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a series of magazines for holding heel lifts, means for supplying presser plates in alternating relation with the ma azines, means for assembling heel lifts and presser plates in alternating relation with a presser plate between adjacents lifts,

and means for successively subjecting the piles of composite lifts and plates to pres sure.

. 18. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for supplying heel lifts and presser plates, a support, assembling means movable for advancing piles of lifts and plates alon the support, and means for simultaneously c elivering a series of alternately arranged lifts and plates to said support.

19. In a machine of the class described,

the combination of means for supplying heel lifts and presser plates, a support, assembling means movable for advancing piles of lifts and plates along the support, and means for simultaneously delivering one of the series of lifts to each of alternate piles on the support and a presser plate to each of the other piles on the support. 20. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for supplying heel lifts and presser plates, a stationary support for receiving the lifts and plates, at conveyor movable intermittently for advancing the lifts and plates along said support, and means for moving a series of lifts and plates from the supplying means and simultaneously delivering one of the series of lifts to each alternate pile on the support in each of its positions of rest and a plate to each of the other piles on the support.

21. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for supplying heel lifts and presser plates, a support, assembling means'movable for advancing piles of lifts and plates along the support, means for simultaneously delivering a series of alternately arranged lifts and plates to said support, and means for subjectingsuccessive piles of alternately arranged lifts and plates to pressure.

22. In a machine ofthe class described, the combination of assembling means for assembling intpiles a series of heel lifts alternating with presser plates, and means for supplying heel. lifts and presser plates from opposite sides of the assembling means and arranging them in piles with a presser plate between each adjacent heel lift.

In a machine of the class described, the combination of assembling means for assembling into piles a series of heel lifts alternating with presser plates, means for supplying heel lifts and presser plates from opposite sides of the assembling means and arranging them in piles with a presser plate between each adjacent heel lift, and means for compressing the composite piles.

24:. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a series of magazines for holding stacks of heel'lifts, means for suppl ing presser plates, a stationary support or supporting piles composed of alternating heel lifts and presser plates, a conveyor for moving the piles along the support, and means for moving heel lifts from the magazines and presser plates from the supplying means equal in total number to the number of lifts and plates in a pile and simultaneously delivering one lift to each alternate pile on the support and one plate to each of the other piles on the support.

25. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a series of magazines for holding stacks of heel lifts, means for supplying presser plates, a stationary support for supporting piles composed of alternating heel lifts and presser plates, a conveyor for moving the piles along the support, means for moving heel lifts from the magazines and presser plates from the supplying means equal in total numberto the number of lifts and plates in a pile and simultaneously delivering one lift to each alternate pile on the support and one plate to each of the other piles on the support, and means for subjecting the composite piles to a lift condensing pressure.

26. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a seriesnof magazines for holding stacks of heel lifts, means for supplying presser plates, a stationary support for supporting piles composed of alternating heel lifts and presser plates, a conveyor for moving the piles along the support, means for moving heel lifts from the magazines and presser plates from the supplying means equal in total number to the number of lifts and plates in a pile and simultaneously delivering one lift to each alternate pile on the support and one plate to each of the other piles on the support, means for compressing each pile. and means for successively moving the completed piles to the compressing means. r

27. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for taking a plurality of heel lifts and presser plates from sources of supply and arranging them in piles with a presser plate between adjacent lifts, means for subjecting the composite piles to compression to simultaneously condense a plurality of lifts, and means for successively separating the compressed lifts and the plates of each pile.

28. In a machine. of the class described, the combination of means for taking a plurality of heel lifts and presser plates from sources of 'supply and arranging them in 'piles with a presser plate between adjacent lifts, means for subjecting the composite piles to compression to simultaneously condense a plurality of lifts, means for successively separating the compressed lifts and the plates of each pile, and means for returning the plates to the source of supply.

29. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for taking a plurality of heel lifts and presser plates from sources of supply and arranging them in piles with a presser plate between adjacent lifts means for subjecting the composite piles to compression to simultaneously condense a plurality of lifts, means for intermittently moving the compressed piles, and means for separating the compressed lifts from the plates.

30. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for taking a plurality of heel lifts and presser plates from sources of supply and arranging them in piles with a presser plate between adj acent' ifts, means for subjecting the composite piles to compression to simultaneously condense a. plurality of lifts, means for intermittently moving, the compressed piles, and means for separating the compressed lifts and plates as they are intermittently moved.

31. In a machine of the class described,

the combination of means for taking a plurality of heel lifts and presser plates from sources of supply and arranging them -in piles with a presser plate between adjacent lifts, means for subjecting the composite piles to compression to simultaneously condense a plurality of lifts, a carrier for removing the compressed pilesv from the pressure means, and means for successively removing a compressed lift and then a presser plate from the piles.

32. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for taking a plurality of heel lifts and presser plates from sources of supply and arranging them in piles with a presser plate between adjacent lifts, means for subjecting the composite piles to compression to simultaneously condense a plurality of lifts, a carrier for removing the compressed piles from the pressure means, means for successively removing a compressed lift and then a plate from the piles, and means for returning the plates to the source of supply.

33. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for taking a plu rality of top-lifts and presser plates from sources of supply and arranging them in piles with a presser plate between adjacent lifts, compression means for subjecting the composite piles to pressure to simultaneously condense a. plurality of lifts, means for transferring the piles successively to the Ir'neans' after they have been compressed, and

means for separating the condensed top lifts from ,the presser plates.

Set. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for taking a plurality of top-lifts and presser plates from sources of supply and arranging them in piles with a presserplate betweenadjacent lifts, eompression'means for subjecting the composite piles to pressure to simultaneously condense .a plurality of lifts, means for transferring the piles successively to the compression means, means for successively removing the piles from the compression means after they have been compressed, means for separating the condensed toplifts from the presser plates, and means for returning the presser plates to the source of supply for further use.

35. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for taking a plurality of top-lifts and presser plates from sources of supply and arranging them in piles with a presserplate between adjacent lifts, compression means for subjecting the composite piles to pressure to simultaneously condense a plurality of lifts, and means including a kicker for separating the compressed lifts and plates.

36. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for taking a plurality of heel lifts and presser plates from sourcesof supply and arranging them in piles with a presser plate between adjacent lifts, means for subjecting the composite piles to compression to simultaneously condense a plurality of lifts, a turret having a series of compartments for holding and transferring the composite,

piles of lifts and plates to the compression means, and means for operating the turret.

37. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for taking a plurality of top-lifts and presser plates from sources of supp-1y and arranging them in piles with a presser plate between adjacent lifts, compression means for subjecting the composite piles to pressure to simultaneously condense a plurality of lifts, means for separating the compressed lifts and plates, and a carrier for successively presenting the composite piles of lifts and plates to the compression means and the separating means.

38. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for taking a plurality of top-lifts and presser plates from sources of supply and arranging them in piles with a presser plate between adjacent lifts, compression means for'subjecting the composite piles to pressure to simultaneously condense a plurality of lifts, means for separating the compressed lifts and plates, a carrier for successively presenting the composite piles of lifts and Malacca plates to the compression means and the separating means, an'd'means for directing the separated lifts and plates in different paths.

' 39. In a machine 'of' the class described, the combination of means for assembling a plurality of heel lifts and rigid presser plates into a pile with a rigid presser plate between adjacent heel'lifts, means for exerting a lift condensing pressure. upon the composite'pile, a carrier for transferring a compressed pile from the pressure means,

and means for effecting the alternate discharge of a condensed lift and ,presser plate.

40. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means foriassembling a plurality of heel lifts and rigid presser .platesinto a pile with a'rigid presser plate composite pile, a turret having a plurality of openings for'receiving piles of lifts and presser plates, and means for turning the turret intermittently to carry uncompressed piles to the pressure means and compressed piles to a discharging'station beyond the RIBSSUI'G 111851-118.

42. In a. machine of the class described, the combination of means for assembling a plurality of heel lifts and rigid presser plates into a pile with a rigid presser plate between adjacent heel lifts, opposed compression members for compressing the composite'pile of lifts'and plates, means for relatively moving'the compression members, a turret supported in fixed relation with one of said 'members and provided with sockets forholding piles of lifts and plates, and means for periodically operating the turret.

43. In a machine of the class described, the combination of meansfor "assembling-a plurality of heel lifts and rigid presser plates into a pile with a rigid presser plate between adj acent" heel lifts; opposed compression members for compressing the composite pile of lifts and plates, means for relatively moving the compression members, a carrier for moving piles o-f'uncompressed lifts and plates to compressing position and piles of compressed lifts and plates away from compressing position, and asupport over which the carrier is moved and which has openings therethrough for the separate discharge of compressed lifts and plates.

44:. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for assembling a plurality of heel lifts and rigid presser plates into a pile with a rigid presser plate between adjacent heel lifts, opposed compression members for compressing the composite pile of lifts and plates, means for relatively moving the compression members, a carrier for moving piles of uncompressed lifts and plates to compressing position and piles of compressed lifts and platesaway from compressing. position, a support Over which the carrier is moved and which has openings therethrough for the separate discharge of compressed lifts and plates, and doors for controlling said openings. p

In testimony whereof I, the said ALBERT E. HUDSON, have signed my name to this specification.

ALBERT E. HUDSON. In testimony whereof I, the said WILLIAM C. WILLSON, have signed myname to this specification.

WILLIAM C. WILLSON. 

